I’m worried about students

I teach younger kids on the spectrum with pretty severe disabilities. All of them are nonverbal. I’m new to the classroom and have seen a pattern that really concerns me. The paraprofessionals have been there for a few years and they are too physical with the kids. They pin the down to chairs when they want them to sit, yank them around by shirts and arms when they are running around the classroom, even pickup and physically move kids if they are having a meltdown on the floor. This goes against everything I’ve ever learned as a teacher and just my basic instincts as well. I’ve been told this has been a problem in the past in this classroom as well and they have been talked to multiple times.

As a new teacher (just to the classroom, not in general) how can I change these habits? Right now the kids are running to me as a shield because I’m not physical with the unless they are in danger or trying to hurt someone else.